Clamp.



01.y nlug "lrigl ey.

Paentd Dec. 3, ISUII.

T. wmGLEY. CLAMP. (Appuceion ale-d Apr. 2o, 1901.)

- lner -T'ho wf (No lrtlodql.)v

UNITED Y STATES PATENT EETcE.,

THOMAS WRIGLEY, OF OAKPARK, ILLINOIS.

C LA M P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,809, dated December 3, 1901. Application filed April 20, 1901. Serial No. 56,692. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, THOMAS WRIGLEY, residing at Oakpark, Oook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a simple and efficient clamp by the use of which brackets and other similar articles or appliances can be attached to the walls and ceilings of rooms or in other places and have the attachment firm and secure-and easily and quickly accomplished; and the invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

l In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure lis an elevation showing the manner of entering the clamp through a wall orpartition; Fig. 2, a similar view to Fig. 1, show-` ing the clamp after it has been entered and secured in position; Fig. 3, a plan View showing the position of the pivoted lock or key in entering the clamp; Fig. 4, a view showing the pivoted lock or key lying over the rod or stem; Fig. 5, a plan view showing the lock or key in its vertical retaining position; Fig. 6, a cross-section with thelock or key as in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 a cross-section with the lock or key as in Fig. 3.

The clamp is constructed with a rod or stem ct, having a screw-thread on its exterior, on which travels a nut b, and the stem can be of any desired diameter and length to suit the requirements of the place and purpose for which the clamp is to be used. One end of the rod or stein, as shown, is flattened, so as to form a head c, on which is pivoted the lock or key, and the lock or key is so pivoted as to have one half or end ol of a greater length from the pivotal point than the opposite half or end e, so that when the rod or stem is properly turned the end d will overbalance the end e and cause the lock or key to assume a horizontal position, and when the rod or stem is reversely turned the end d will drop, causing the lock or key to assume a vertical position.

` The lock or key is preferably made of sheet metal stamped or formed so as to have a back or bodyf, with a wall or flange g on each side, forming a trough shape. The side Walls or flanges g are depressed or forced inward at the point of pivot for the lock or key, forming on each side a contracted wall o r Harige section g', between which is located the head c and through which and the head a pivot 7L is passed, leaving the lock or key free to turn or swing on the pivot to the limit horizontally of the engagement of the end d with the body of the rod or stem and to drop into a vertical position. As shown, a washer or plate z' is slipped onto the rod or stern in advance ofthe nut, which plate or washer acts as a counterresistance to the lock or key when vertical in securing the clamp as a whole in position.

The rod or stem is attached to the wall, ceiling, partition, or other place where used by boring or drilling a hole of the proper size to admit of the passage of the rod or stem and the lock or key when lying in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. l, and when inserting the rod or stem the fastening-nut is at the end of the rod or stem or entirely removed therefrom, as may be desired. The rod or stem and the lock or key are entered through the hole therefor until the end of the lock or key which overlies the rod or stem has passed the face of the wall, when by turning the rod orstem over the end d falls away from the rod or stem, turning the lock or key into practically a vertical position, so that on pulling in the direction to withdraw the rod or stein the face of the lock or key engages the face of the wall, preventing the Withdrawal, and with the parts in this position the washer is brought into engagement with the opposite face of the wall and the attachment completed by forcing the nut into engagement with the washer or plate, drawing the lock or key firmly against the face of the wall and holding the rod or stem flxedly in position.

The trough shape of the lock or key enables a light piece of metal to be used, as the side flanges or walls give additional strength, and the Walls or flanges also furnish a bearing and guide for insuring the dropping of the lock or key into either its horizontal or vertical position. The elongation of' one end of the lock or key over the other gives an out-ofcenter attachment, by which the long end will cause the lock or key to assume either a horizontal or vertical position, according as to the turning of the rod or stem, so as to bring the long end up or down. The turning of the rod or stem to bring the long end up causes the lock or key to swing into a horizontal position, While the turning to bring the long end down causes the lock or key to swing into a Vertical position. The side iianges or Walls furnish a double bearing or contact for engagement with the face of the Wall, so that when drawn to place the lock or key will have a firm support against the wall on Iboth sides of its pivot, thus preventing any side twisting or bending of the lock or key in the operation of inserting and withdrawing the rod or stcm. The rod or stein after its insertion can be easily and quickly withdrawn, as all that is required is to loosen the nut sufficiently to advance the rod or stem a distance sufficient for the lock or key to clear the face of the Wall, when by turning the rod orstem so that the long end of the lock or key is up the lock or key will drop into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. Il, ready to be withdrawn, and this facility of both entering and withdrawing the rod or stem is obtained by the construct-ion of lock or key having a body with side flanges or Walls forming a channelplate between the side flanges or walls of which the rod or stem enters when the lock or key is in a horizontal position.

The clamp as a whole is exceedingly simplein construction, can be readily and quickly inserted and Withdrawn, is very strong when secured in position, and is Well adapted for the attachment of brackets and other appliances to walls and other places and for securing in place marble and other wainscoting, steel, iron, and other ceilings, moldings, and other fixtures.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

V l. The combination, in a clamp, of a rod or stem and a self-oscillating lock or key having a back or body and a wall or flange on each side of the back or body, the Walls or anges having their engaging faces lying in the same straight plane, between which Walls or flanges the lock or key is pivoted on the end of the rod or stem, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a clamp, of a rod or stem and a self-oscillating lock or key having a back or body and a Wall or flange on each side of the back 0r body, between which Walls or flanges the lock or key is pivoted longitudinally ott center on the end of the rod or stem, for automatically dropping the lock 0r key into a longitudinal and into a transverse position by turning the rod or stem, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a clamp, of a rod or stem having ascrewthread on its exterior, a nut traveling on the screw-thread of the rod or stem, and a self-oscillating lock or key having a back or body and a Wall or iange on each side of the back or body, pivoted through the side Walls or flanges longitudinally off center on the end of the rod or stem, to automatically drop intoa longitudinal and into a transverse position in relation to the rod or stem, and when in a vertical position coperate with the nut and securely retain the clamp in position, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a clamp, of a rod or stem flattened at its engaging end and having a screw-thread on its exterior, a plate or Washer on the rod or stem, a nut traveling on the screw-thread of the rod or stem back of the plate or washer, and a self-oscillating lock or keyhaving a back or body and a Wall or flange on each side of the back or body, pivoted through the side Walls or anges longitudinally off center on the flattenedl end of the rod or stem, to automatically drop into a longitudinal and into a transverse position in relation to the rod or stern, and When in a transverse position coperate With the Washer or plate andthe nut to securely bold the clamp in place, substantially as described.

THOMAS WRIGLEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. MCGREGOR, SAMUEL W. BANNING. 

